What does God require?

Righteousness is defined as the quality of being morally right or justifiable.  For as long as man has walked the earth, he has taken it upon himself to define righteousness and live according to that standard.  All of us know someone who cares for their family and friends, who gives money to charities, who raises well behaved kids who become productive in society, who have a good marriage, and so on.  They do not murder, steal, or break the law in any way.  In the eyes of the world this is a good person.  So how does God define righteousness and who is a good person?  What does God require?  Here is how Jesus defines it in Matthew 5:

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.  - Matthew 5:17-20

The Pharisees were experts in the Law and worked very hard to keep the letter of the Law; the Jews of the time looked up to the Pharisees as an example of how to live.  When Jesus explains here that a persons righteousness would have to exceed that of the Pharisees, the common Jew would have been disheartened.  Jesus goes on to explain the intent of the Law and what is required to be righteous in God's eyes:

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment... 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart... 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.-Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, and 43-48

At this point a Jew who was thought to have been good and righteous based on their observance of the Law was crushed, for who has not given into anger or lust, and why should we be kind to those who hate us, our enemies?  Who has been perfect?  Jesus shares a parable in Luke 17 that I feel is helpful for understanding what is required of those who desire to serve God with a life that glorifies him:

7 “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” - Luke 17:7-10

So should we boast in our own strength when we observe the law and obey Gods commands?  Never, Jesus teaches that we should not because we have not excelled in the law, we have merely done what we were commanded to do and what was required of us.  The requirement is perfection, not our best effort. This is further examined by Paul:

6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. - Romans 8:6-8

This passage indicates that those who are not covered by the blood of Christ simply cannot please God "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)." Our human efforts, outside the blood of Christ, do not please God.  It is so fundamentally important that each individual comes to grips with this reality - we cannot be righteous by our own efforts because we are stained with sin and there must be justice for sin.    For if you do not understand your inability to save yourself in the face of a righteous and just God, you can never see your need for a savior.  The good news is that we are not without hope in our fallen condition:

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. -Romans 8:1-4

Turn your heart to Jesus today and have faith that his sacrifice has made you clean, repent and leave your burden of sin and guilt at the foot of the cross, and you can start living a life that brings glory to God.

The Greatest Commands

From the outside, Christianity can seem like a whole bunch of impossible rules to follow which hold us back from experiencing life's pleasures.  It is true that it is impossible on our own to follow the rules perfectly (Romans 3:23); however, the Bible clearly teaches that the Christian walk is about a heart condition; God is much more interested in the motivation for our actions than our actions alone.

28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. - Mark 12:28-34

This passage teaches that obedience to God is first and foremost love which is directed toward God first and then to others.  This love for God is not to be held back, it is to be expressed through our entire being,  our heart, soul, mind, and spirit.  However, we are used to love in our personal relationships, but  he is not like a person whom we could hug and show affection for  so how does one love God?

21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. - John 14:21

This sounds a little like circular reasoning, but it is not.  If you love someone, do you not consider their desires and well-being before your own?  Consider the following paraphrase of the ten commandments from Exodus 20 (similarly from Deuteronomy 5).  As you read them, keep in mind that by obeying these commands you are showing your love for God.

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make idols (you shall not bow down to them or serve them).
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet (your neighbor's house, wife, servants, ox, donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's).

Consider the first four commands - keeping these commands honors God and shows your love for him because you are putting him first in your life.  Man was made to worship - we all have the desire to raise up something in our lives as worthy of our greatest attention.  Worshiping anything other than God (money, fame, sex, possessions, etc) is not showing love to God.  God created the physical things in this world for the good of man so that man might give God glory for them, but the fallen nature of man instead worships the created things instead.

Now consider the remaining six commands.  You can keep these commands simply by showing unconditional love to others; this means loving others more than your self.  For example, you would not murder (also get angry at, Matt. 5:21), steal from, lie about, or take your neighbors wife (also lust after, Matt. 5:28) if you truly loved them.  In the context of these commands, consider the "golden rule" as Jesus stated it:

 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. - Matthew 7:12

In practice we typically omit the second half of this sentence, "for this is the Law and the Prophets".  This is truly a profound and foundational statement.   Read again the greatest commandments as written in Matthew:

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22:34-40

Again Jesus tells us that the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.  Here is what Matthew Henry comments on this:

This is the sum and substance of all those precepts relating to practical religion which were written in men’s hearts by nature, revived by Moses, and backed and enforced by the preaching and writing of the prophets. All hang upon the law of love; take away this, and all falls to the ground, and comes to nothing. Rituals and ceremonials must give way to these, as must all spiritual gifts, for love is the more excellent way. This is the spirit of the law, which animates it, the cement of the law, which joins it; it is the root and spring of all other duties, the compendium of the whole Bible, not only of the law and the prophets, but of the gospel too, only supposing this love to be the fruit of faith, and that we love God in Christ, and our neighbour for his sake. All hangs on these two commandments, as the effect doth both on its efficient and on its final cause; for the fulfilling of the law is love (Rom. 13:10) and the end of the law is love, 1 Tim. 1:5. The law of love is the nail, is the nail in the sure place, fastened by the masters of assemblies (Eccl. 12:11), on which is hung all the glory of the law and the prophets (Isa. 22:24), a nail that shall never be drawn; for on this nail all the glory of the new Jerusalem shall eternally hang. Love never faileth. Into these two great commandments therefore let our hearts be delivered as into a mould; in the defence and evidence of these let us spend our zeal, and not in notions, names, and strifes of words, as if those were the mighty things on which the law and the prophets hung, and to them the love of God and our neighbour must be sacrificed; but to the commanding power of these let every thing else be made to bow.  -Matthew Henry's Commentary - Matthew 22:40

Who is my "neighbor" that I must love?

It is easy to love those who please us, those we get along well with, those who show care for us, but it is much harder to love those who may believe something different (ex: liberal vs. conservative) or say hurtful things.  So who is the "neighbor" that Jesus tells us we must love?  Jesus does such a good job of answering this question that I will provide his answer here:

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”  28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” -Luke 10:25-37 

The Samaritan's were hated by the Jews and would have been considered an enemy.  Where the priest and Levite failed (considered the greatest of men), the enemy prevailed in love.  The following two passages provide additional insight into loving your enemies:

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. - Matthew 5:38-42 

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. - Matthew 5:43-48

Christ not only taught that a man must love his neighbor, but he demonstrated how to love your enemy as your neighbor.

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -Romans 5:6-8

Practical ways to love God

It may be challenging at first to sort out how to show love to God in practical ways.  Because of Jesus Christ we have direct communion with God, there is no fear going to God as we would our earthy father.  He is a personal God so treat him as you would your best friend.  Here are some ways that I have found helpful to show God my love for him.

1. Read His word, learn about Him.
   
   1Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. -Psalm 1:1-2
   
2. Speak with Him, confess your sins and go to Him for comfort.
   
   6Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.- Isaiah 55:6-7
   
3. Pray to Him when you are in need.
   
   4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:4-7
   
4. Worship Him and give Him glory.
   
   23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. 24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! 25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be held in awe above all gods. 26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 27 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place. 28 Ascribe to the LORD, O clans of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! 29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; 30 tremble before him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. 31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!" 32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! 33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. 34 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! - 1 Chronicles 16:23-34
   
5. Tell others about Him.
   
   But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. -1 Peter 3:15
   
6. Show His love to others that they might desire to experience it directly.
   
   16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. -1 John 3:16-18

Suffering

Suffering is universal, there is no human, no animal, no living creature that does not experience suffering.  Why?  Is suffering just the result of nature, of natural selection - only the strongest survive?  After all, the methods of natural selection in the animal kingdom are extremely violent; animals constantly killing other animals for survival.  Male grizzly bears will even kill their own young to preserve their dominance and territory.  What about violent storms, earthquakes and the resulting tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, etc., all of which take a massive toll on life?  Perhaps worst of all, man has a long history of violence against man; this includes persecution of the Church.  How could God allow those who are seeking him to suffer, even to the point of death?  The New Testament actually promises Christians that they will suffer - why? From a Christian worldview, I believe the question  "Why is there suffering?" has a straightforward answer.  The question of "Why Suffer?" is much more challenging - both conceptually and practically.

Why is there suffering?

God intended the world to be good:

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. - Genesis 1:31

Man, Adam and Eve, had dominion over the earth and tended the garden that God placed them in (Genesis 2:15).  This was work, but it was God given and it was enjoyable.  Man walked with God in peace and joy.  God gave man free will so that he could enjoy the pleasures of earth and bring God glory.  Sin entered the world when man disobeyed God and the creation was fundamentally changed.  God cursedthe creation:

16 To the woman he said,“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.”17 And to Adam he said,“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread,till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken;for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”                     -Genesis 3:16-19

Paul further explains the curse in Romans as he discusses suffering:

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.  - Romans 8:18-25

Why Suffer?

The bible provides a multitude of reasons for why suffering exists; James 1:2 encourages Christians to "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds". So why should we count physical and mental anguish as joy?

1. Sanctification: God uses suffering to refine our faith, perfect us, and strengthen us.
   
   
   Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard who has kept our soul among the living  and has not let our feet slip. For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.
   - Psalm 66:8-12
   
   For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.
   - Hebrews 2:10
   
   In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. - 1 Peter 1:6-7
2. To Glorify God: God is glorified when his name is proclaimed and men come to believe in Christ as their savior.  Consider the blind man who was forced to beg his entire life:
   
   As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. -John 9:1-3
   
   Jesus heals this man and God is glorified - even until today for this great work!
3. Humility: Suffering teaches humility and makes us dependent upon God.
   
   So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. - 2 Corinithians 12:7-9
   
    Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:6-7
4. Christlikeness: Suffering teaches us that the greatest good of the Christian life is not absence of pain, but Christlikeness. It allows the life of Christ to be manifested in us.
   
   But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. - 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
   
   And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. -Romans 8:28-29
   
   Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. - Philippians 3:8-11
5. Discipline: Suffering can be discipline from God for sin and rebellion.
   
   Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction - Psalm 107:17
   
   It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. - Hebrews 12:7-11
6. Compassion: Suffering allows us to comfort others.  This is perhaps one of the Christians greatest assets to share the love of God and ultimately salvation with others. We have the power to show the love of God to others when they are suffering; furthermore, Jesus identifies "...love your neighbor as yourself...(Matthew 22:39)" as the second greatest command (after loving God).  Consider how much compassion and love is shown to those who have suffered great disaster - such as damage from a hurricane.  God can use these disasters to bring many to Christ and bring himself glory through the work of the church.
   
   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
7. Obedience and self-control:
   
   In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. - Hebrews 5:7-8
   
   Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. - Psalm 119:67
   
   Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. - Romans 5:1-5
   
   Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. - James 1:2-3
8. Sharing God's Love: Voluntary suffering is one way to demonstrate the love of God.
   
   We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. - 2 Corinthians 8:1-2
9. Injustice: Suffering is the result of evil and injustice; however we can suffer at the hands of others because we know God is our avenger.
   
   Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. - Psalm 27:12
   
   The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright; their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. Psalm 37:14-15
   
   For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. -2 Peter 2:19-21
10. Persecution: Suffering is part of sharing the gospel and should be expected.
    
    Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. - 2 Timothy 2:8-10
    
    ...when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. - Acts 5:40-42
    
    But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 1 Peter 4:13-14
    
    As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. - 2 Timothy 4:5
    
    I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. - Romans 12:1-2
    
    This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. - 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7
11. Reward: Endurance through suffering is given as a cause for reward (2 Cor 4:17; 2 Tim 2:12).
    
    So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
    
    You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 2 Timothy 2:1-6

Our Hope: The Suffering Servant

So then, where is our hope in suffering.  It may be some comfort that God can and does use suffering for a purpose, but where is our comfort.  How can we be filled with peace and joy when our bodies are wasting away?  In every other major world religion "god" is above suffering.  In other religions, the ultimate goal is to do enough good in this life to get to where god is.  However, the Christian God does not leave us in the chaos and meaninglessness of our pain.  Christ was and is with us in our pain.

“[Christ] the god-man suffers too, with patience. Evil and death can no longer be entirely imputed to him since he suffers and dies. The night on Golgotha is so important in the history of man only because, in its shadows, the divinity ostensibly abandoned its traditional privilege, lived through to the end, despair included, the agony of death. Thus is explained the 'Lama sabachthani' and the frightful doubt of Christ in agony”- Albert Camus [as quoted by Timothy Keller in The Reason for God, Belief in an Age of Skepticism]

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. - Isaiah 53:10-11 

In case it's not clear, Christ suffered more than any other man in history, and more unjustly than any man in history.  Luke 22:44 tells us that before the crucifixion Christ was in such agony that he sweat drops of blood.  Because of this, God can identify with suffering and does not leave us to suffer alone; he promises to sustain us.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. - Psalm 68:19

In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame!
 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
    incline your ear to me, and save me!
 Be to me a rock of refuge,
    to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.
-Psalm 71:1-3

Therefore rest in God and obey:

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” - Matthew 7:24-27

When you suffer, do not be anxious because God is your helper:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:4-7 

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. - Matthew 6:25-34

Remember that God's ways are higher than your ways; he can see the full picture of history in a way that our finite minds cannot comprehend.  Even if we cannot understand the purpose of our suffering, the omnipotent God we serve has purposes that are greater than our suffering.

8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

-Isaiah 55:8-11  

When Does Suffering End?

Suffering will not end in this life.  The world is broken and under the curse, but God promises to restore the earth; this is after the judgment of men.  He will restore life as it was in the garden when man walked at peace with God.

17 “For behold, I create new heavens
    and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
    or come into mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
    in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
    and her people to be a gladness.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem
    and be glad in my people;
no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping
    and the cry of distress...
25...The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
    the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
    and dust shall be the serpent's food.
They shall not hurt or destroy
    in all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord. - Isaiah 65:17-19,25

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” - Revelation 21:3-4